My work is focused on providing an integrated platform that brings
together engineering and biology in order to accelerate progress
towards designing the stem cell fate and its microenvironment. The
development of artificial cellular niches for studying the mechanisms
that affect human stem cell pluripotency is of foremost importance and
represents a major goal of my research. Human embryonic stem (ES) cells
and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are used as model systems to
establish in vitro artificial microenvironments that better mimic the
extracellular matrix. Special attention is given to microscale-based
systems designed for 3D culture of these cell types, and
high-throughput screening platforms are being developed to unveil the
effects of complex interactions on cell fate. In addition to the
influence of mechanical and matrix-related responses, the effects of
microenvironmental conditions (e.g. small molecules and growth factors)
have been extensively studied due to their capacity to modulating
intracellular pathways. My work is expected to contribute for the
development of innovative cell culture models that better reflect in
vivo function, and the final goal is to generate cells and tissues to
advance our understanding of biology and tissue regeneration, which
will lead to further development of cell-based therapies.